Phoentic Alphabet

[Xenif]

I've just recently read that different departments around the U.S. use different Phonetic Alphabets. Which one does your department use?

1. Military (alpha, bravo, charlie)
2. APCO (alpha, boy, charles)


(side note: Zap, which does our department use?)

[mcsap]

The former military guys is use the Alpha , Bravo Charlie words.

The non-military use any and everything else.

[zap]

I don't know. However, it is standard for our area. Just remember....whenever possible, it will most likely be a NAME! Adam, Boy, Charles, David, Edward, Frank, George etc.

And....the biggest grief I got after I started was when I got distracted by something going on when calling in a plate.....I called a U in as Utah. I heard people say that I didnt' know the alphabet for months after that.

[TxArsonJim]

around the Houston area, most everyone uses the 'Adam, Boy, Charles, etc. ' alphabet

[Sipowicz]

It varies. Fire uses military. Per policy police use "Adam, Boy, Charlie . . . ." but in reality it's a crapshoot.

From a dispatch standpoint, I don't really care, as long as it is clear. I have two major gripes, and know specific officers that do each.

Gripe 1: Too fast! One of my good friends from the Park Police knows the accepted phonetic alphabet for Minneapolis too well. For example, Nicole would be "Nora Ida Charlie Ocean Lincoln Edward." My friend's version would be "noraidacharlieoceanlincolnedward." My response usually is "Your what hurts?"

Gripe 2: Not precursoring that you are spelling something phonetically. Most of the cops will precursor saying "The last(first/middle) name phonetically is . . . . . . . . " Some cops don't, and just start in with the phonetics. The problem is since so many of the letters phonetically are names, you think that is the name they are giving, and not the phonetic spelling. I start writing the name they are saying and then realize once they get to the third letter that they are spelling phonetically, and I lose the whole name (at least that part of the name) because I have to shift gears to phonetics to hear the rest.

[arson571]

We use military and always have.

I believe, now that the age of international terrorism is here, we should all use military for the sake of interoperability.

[bikemancs]

We use military and always have.

I believe, now that the age of international terrorism is here, we should all use military for the sake of interoperability.

That'd make too much sense

Naturally I use military.

[Rule303]

I'm not sure if it has a correct/granted name, however, common among Amatuer Radio Operators globally is the country/city use of phonetics...
America
Berlin
Canada
etc..

When I first joined the job (when it was still fun to go to work and we were not all politically correct), we had a few newer guys/gals that did not know any phonetic alphabet.
As a result, we got some pretty weird renditions.
On night shifts when things were a bit slow, we would as a matter of jest, create some of the most unique phonetics to outdo each other.

"Mike" might become...
Mammary
Isolation
Killer
Erotica

or...

Marvelous
Ironic
Kitten
Ecstasy

The evolution of phonetics was born from poor radio signals and reception. Today with digital radios, it barely has any relevance anymore.

[zap]

The evolution of phonetics was born from poor radio signals and reception. Today with digital radios, it barely has any relevance anymore.

You are most likely correct, however, that day I said Utah rather than Union...you'd have thought I'd just publically murdered a cute kitten!

[Xenif]

meow ;)

[Actiondefence]

Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, Delta etc for us.

(and occasionally P Peter instead of Papa and Z Zebra or zeedonk instead of Zulu. Ha ha ha, always cracks me up!).

[arson571]

You are most likely correct, however, that day I said Utah rather than Union...you'd have thought I'd just publically murdered a cute kitten!

That's because saying Utah makes Union plural (marriage).

Sorry, I know that isn't relevant but I could resist.

*myfavoritewifeislaughingatmyjoke*

[Xenif]

"123"
"Go ahead"
"Registration Check"
"Go ahead"
"VERY LATE MODEL car.. Arson Breacher CrimeBytes 2 9 5, Arson Breacher Crimebybes 2 9 5, break"

Thank you, I'll be here all week.